Abstract:

Introduction
Audioboo is a new social networking site allowing 5 minutes of audio recorded via an iphone application to be available to subscribers (akin to the textual site Twitter). Subscribers can listen to content on line via the audioboo site or via the iphone application. 5 minutes maximum duration allows the medium to be used for medical microteaching. We aimed to assess the satisfaction of learners with audioboo.

Methods
Audioboos of management of a range of common surgical topics were recorded and uploaded to www.audioboo.com. Medical students in clinical years of the course subscribed to the material and use and satisfaction were assessed by questionnaire.

Results
The audioboos received positive feedback for content, ease of access, ubiquity of access and timing of access (e.g. audioboos accessed immediately before or after seeing a patient with a condition covered by uploaded content). Criticisms were the current lack of mobile application for devices other than iphone (content can be accessed by mobile internet however) and the lack of a search facility on the audioboo site. Students stated that they would like to see more content available by this medium.

Conclusions
This pilot study demonstrates that audioboo is a novel, useful, ubiquitous learning medium which has potential for further development for delivering medical microteaching.

Keywords:

ubiquitous learning, audioboo, mobile learning, web2, 0, surgery.